Current Affairs Quiz-September, 2020

Notes:
A new study published in the Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology has found that Vitamin D supplements can decrease the rate of ICU admissions due to Covid-19.
The vitamin is found to be stimulating immune responses against various diseases including the novel coronavirus. The study was conducted on 76 patients who tested positive for Covid-19 in Spain. The patients who received the supplement were discharged without complications.

Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued guidelines regarding Compliance Functions in Banks and Role of Chief Compliance Officer (CCO).
The guidelines direct that all banks should have a board approved Compliance Policy and Appointment of CCO. The CCO shall be a senior executive of the bank, preferably in the rank of a General Manager.

Notes:
UN Day for South- South Cooperation is observed every year on September 12.
South-South cooperation is a manifestation of solidarity among countries of the South which aims to attain various development goals. It marks the 42nd anniversary of the 1978 adoption of the Buenos Aires Plan of Action for Promoting and Implementing Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries.

Notes:
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Sameer Kumar Khare as new Executive Director of Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The veteran bureaucrat has been appointed to the post for a tenure of three years. Sameer Kumar is a 1989-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer. He is currently serving as Additional Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs under Ministry of Finance.

Notes:
The MD of HDFC Bank Aditya Puri has been conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award by Euromoney Awards of Excellence 2020.
This award has been conferred to recognise the leader for his skills in building a world-class Indian bank. This prestigious award has been given by Euro Money just ahead of Aditya Puri’s retirement next month.

Notes:
The Government of India has formed a committee for conducting a study on the origin and evolution of 12,000-year-old Indian culture.
The committee comprises of 16 members with K.N. Dikshit, the Chairman of Indian Archaeological Society as a prominent member. The ministry plans to use the report of the committee in textbooks for the purpose of educational research.

Notes:
A draft of Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules 2020 has been prepared by the Ministry of Power for the first time.
As per the regulations, the time period to provide new electricity connection and modify existing connection in metro cities is not more than 7 days and in rural areas is not more than 30 days.

Notes:
Indian-American filmmaker Mira Nair has recently received the Jeff Skoll Award for Impact Media at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Nair was one of the six recipients of the TIFF Tribute Awards ceremony along with veteran actor Sir Anthony Hopkins, Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet among others. The presentation of the award to Nair was initiated by Tabu, star of Mira’s television series ‘A Suitable Boy’.

Notes:
The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has permitted SII – Serum Institute of India to resume clinical trials of COVID vaccine, which was paused last week as per an order by DCGI.
The SII is conducting trials of the vaccine being developed by Oxford University’s Jenner Institute and Astra Zeneca. DCGI has advised SII to take additional care during the trial and to submit the details of medication to ensure that it in accordance with the protocol for the management of adverse events.

Notes:
The Government of India has created a new “Special Window for Completion of Affordable and Mid-Income Housing” Investment Fund (SWAMIH investment fund).
This is created to fund stalled housing projects that are net worth positive. These projects would include the ones that have been declared as NPA and those pending before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) under the IBC.